“It’s easy to see why Rankin has a huge cult following. Drawing on a rich veinof English humor that encompasses Python, Adams and Stanshall, his comedy-fantasies are filled with pop culture references, music hall wordplay, and ironicquips galore.” —

BBC Magazine

“Rankin’s traditionally in-your-face humor is fully in evidence in

Retro-mancer

, gearing it up to 11 and rarely, if ever, letting go of the reader’s attention. We loved it and we suspect that you might too.” —

. Wrecked Martian spaceships, back-engineered by CharlesBabbage and Nikola Tesla, have carried the Queen’s Own Electric Fusiliers to thered planet, and Mars is now part of the ever-expanding British Empire. Professor Cof-fin has a problem: the pickled Martian’s tentacles are fraying at the ends, and hisMost Meritorious Unnatural Attraction (the remains of the original alien autopsy,performed by Sir Frederick Treves at the London Hospital) is no longer drawing thecrowds. The less-than-scrupulous sideshow proprietor likes Off-worlders’ cash, sohe needs a sensational new attraction. Word has reached him of the Japanese DevilFish Girl; nothing quite like her has ever existed before. But Professor Coffin’s questto possess the ultimate showman’s exhibit is about to cause considerable friction amongthe folk of other planets. Sufficient, in fact, to spark off Worlds War II.